The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 62

< Chapter 62 >

Thomas was the pride of a farming couple. 

He was a tall young man with many freckles on his face from helping his hardworking parents in the fields, and Rebecca loved every freckle on him since childhood.

Despite his humble background, Thomas was intelligent, and Lord Silvester loved boasting about how much support he provided at social events.

Thanks to his compatibility with Thomas, Lord Silvester sponsored his education, and a year later, he was set to become an accountant in the city.

As Victoria’s engagement concluded, Lord Silvester and his wife began searching for a fiancé for Rebecca, who would soon turn twenty.

They often discussed potential suitors during dinner with Rebecca.

Sometimes they admired wealthy businessmen in London with thriving businesses, while on other occasions, they expressed interest in noble families with royal connections. They believed in upholding the pride of their lineage despite coming from a modest background.

Feeling uneasy, Rebecca and Thomas fled from Silvester’s Manor one night, guided by Thomas’s ambition to provide for Rebecca as an accountant in London, even if it meant living in modest accommodations.

“Within just two days, Father found us at the London inn. I was immediately escorted back to the mansion in a carriage, and Thomas…”

Rebecca paused, staring into the blazing fire.

“When I returned to the mansion, I was locked in a room for a week, unaware of the passage of time. Later, I learned that my sister, due to her broken engagement and Father’s blame, suffered a nervous breakdown. Thomas… he didn’t want to leave, but he confessed that he was forced because of me, the lady of the house.”

Rebecca continued calmly, holding a teacup. Tears welled up in Mabel’s eyes.

“I couldn’t believe Father’s lies about Thomas… Maybe I found it easier to believe them. The first night we spent in that shabby inn away from our parents, I felt both joy and fear. I realized I, a noblewoman accustomed to reciting poetry at parties and dressing up, would have to cook and clean in a place without servants… I had such thoughts.”

Rebecca shed tears with a guilty expression, but Mabel understood her feelings.

People’s words often penetrate deep into one’s subconscious without their knowledge. Especially for Rebecca, having grown up as a noblewoman, facing decisions that demanded complete dependence and submission was frightening.

“When Thomas’ mother sent the letter… I didn’t even dream that Thomas was sick. I didn’t know he had been beaten by our father, or that he had been eagerly awaiting my letters all this time… I simply thought that the person who left me suddenly wanted to see me.”

Rebecca looked up at Mabel. Her pale face displayed the turmoil within her.

“Mabel, now I understand. It’s so clear to me now that I’ve lost him. Even if Thomas abandoned me, it doesn’t matter. If I could see him just one more time, I would willingly spend a month, even a year, in solitary confinement. What was I so afraid of? Having lost what I feared most, I now realize that everything I’ve been afraid of until now means nothing…”

Rebecca suddenly contorted her face and cried out softly. Her face remained contorted for a while.

* * *

“So, what happens to Rebecca now?”

Mary, sitting by Mabel’s fireplace, asked. Mary and Irina had gathered in Mabel’s room after the bustling autumn festival to prepare for the upcoming exams as usual.

“Well, considering what happened in a place where there were not only political science students but also outside guests, finding a fiancé in London seems out of the question now. Lord Silvester’s money poured into Summerhill must be quite bitter.”

Irina casually replied while adjusting the shawl made of silk.

“I don’t pity Lord Silvester at all. He ruined a man’s life by accusing him of eloping with his daughter and poisoning her. Even though he was the man Rebecca loved so much.”

“Women’s opinions or feelings don’t matter at all. Before marriage, whatever we think, all of it must be decided by Father or the men of the house.”

They sighed heavily at Mary’s melancholic tone.

“And the elders of the house only want to behave according to what people around them or the world deem right…”

Irina’s textbook fluttered and fell. Then Mary mumbled while burying her face in the book on the floor.

“We can’t blame the men or the adults in the house who have power and authority. Even if we were to tell all the young ladies in Summerhill right now to find a husband or a job as they please, who would willingly meet and marry someone of a different status? I’ve learned that so far. They’ll be too busy groveling under the eyes of society and the world.”

Mabel, who had been silently listening to Mary and Irina, spoke up.

“But as long as we don’t change, nothing will change.”

Then, Irina finally took her eyes off the book she had been reading and looked at Mabel.

“If Rebecca hadn’t relied solely on Thomas, or rather, if she had learned to trust herself and make decisions for herself, couldn’t she have stood up to Lord Silvesterr’s lies?”

Mabel recalled Rebecca, who had been trapped by fear of speaking out after sharing a night of passion with Thomas. As someone who had to entrust her entire life, including her opinions and thoughts, to her husband as well as survival-related conscious decisions, it was natural to be afraid, even with someone she loved.

“I mean… It’s not just about social status. Some people always have more than others, and some always have less, whether it’s money or honor… Because such differences will always exist, it’s about how we choose to accept those differences, isn’t it?”

Mary, who had been carefully listening to Mabel’s words, asked.

“Hmm… So, are you suggesting we ignore things like money, honor, and status?”

“Rather than that…”

Mabel blushed slightly as she spoke. Her sparkling hazel eyes and reddish hair beautifully complemented the flickering fire.

“Perhaps we can create a society where values beyond those things are central? A world where the dignity of every individual is more important than anything else, where everyone can make decisions for their own happiness.”

Mabel thought her words were similar to what William had said last summer as they walked along the beach together.

‘I believe people are born into this world to discover the dignity of shining as individuals, equally, within it.’

His blue eyes seemed as deep and beautiful as the ocean spread out before them. Mabel loved his low and gentle voice echoing amidst the cries of seagulls.

‘If not everyone is equal, why would God give everyone the power to fall in love equally?’

A smile lit up his face, kissed by the sunlight. He stopped walking and turned towards Mabel. His solid figure wrapped in soft fabric was exposed to the sea breeze.

‘But unfortunately, it seems God didn’t know how deeply I could love you, a mere mortal. My heart races uncontrollably every time I see you; even I find it hard to handle.’

He took Mabel’s hand with his large and warm hand and brought it close to his firm chest. Then, the strong beat of his heart, which would surely be spewing red blood from every corner of his muscular body, was transmitted to Mabel’s body.

It was then that Irina’s lilting voice rang in Mabel’s ears, breaking through the reverie of the Isle of Wight.

“When such a world comes, I’ll play a better role than being sold off as a pretty new bride to a family with inheritance rights.”

Irina slammed her sociology textbook shut with a loud noise as she spoke.

She, too, felt the increasing pressure from her parents as graduation approached. No matter how wealthy they were as London’s leading tycoons, with titles to boot, they couldn’t simply hand over their fortune to their unmarried daughter.

“I also want a profession that allows me to travel the world without worrying about my parents’ honor or the scrutinizing eyes of society.”

While the de Percy couple didn’t oppose ladies like Mary having professions, they expressed concern about their daughter’s ambition to explore the world.

Upon hearing her friends’ aspirations, Mabel wanted to encourage them. She hoped Irina, fiery and passionate, would find a suitable partner; that Mary could embark on the culinary journeys she dreamed of while traveling the world; that Rebecca, trapped in sadness and guilt, wouldn’t sacrifice her happiness for Lord Silvester’s honor anymore; and for herself…

“After all, change is inevitable.”

Mabel rose from her seat and walked to the window. The tree that William once climbed seemed to understand her heart, shaking its sturdy branches in the November wind.

“Perhaps just our changing perspectives, people like us, can catalyze the speed and direction of that change.”

Mabel said, gazing at the dim night sky outside the window. 

In the distance, Cheshire Hall, where oil lamps once blazed, was now gradually illuminated by flickering lights, one by one.